Dhaka, Bangladesh, Apr 13 : Australia beat Bangladesh by 66 runs on Wednesday to complete a 3-0 sweep of the limited-overs one-day international series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Bangladesh could only manage 295-6 in 50 overs in response to Australia's 361-8 in the final match of the series.
Chasing the mammoth total set by the visitors, opener Tamim Iqbal made an aggressive start by hitting six boundaries and one six to bring 32 from 17 balls. But it was too big of a challenge for Bangladesh, which needed to produce a record total to avoid being swept. The team has reached 300 only four times, and its highest successful chasing score is 313-6 against Zimbabwe in 2009.
The series win gives Michael Clarke a boost as the new captain of the No. 1-ranked team after he took the helm from Ricky Ponting after his nine years in charge. Ponting resigned as test and ODI skipper after Australia's disappointing World Cup campaign.
Michael Hussey helped give Australia a great start with a 108 for his third one-day international century, while Shane Watson scored 72 off 40 balls and Ponting added 47.
In the opening partnership for Bangladesh, Iqbal and Imrul Kayes collected 43 into the fifth over of the innings before Iqbal was dismissed by Mitchell Johnson (3-67).
Kayes went on to make his ninth ODI 50, and he was just seven runs away from a century as Bangladesh reached 179-2.
Kayes' 93 runs came off 95 balls as he hit 10 boundaries and two sixes. Debutant James Pattinson finally took Kayes as a thin-edged ball flew to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.
After his departure, Shariar Nafees helped Bangladesh reach 197-3 before he was caught by Watson off Johnson.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan (9), Mushfiqur Rahim (1) and Alok Kapali (13) were taken cheaply while middle order batsman Shahriar Nafees amassed 60 and Mahmuduallah (68) fought till the end.
Sohrawardy Shuvo was unbeaten on 3.
Watson took the wickets of Shakib and Rahim to put pressure on the host.
The Australian openers were well supported by Clarke (47) and Johnson (41), while John Hastings offered a 14-ball cameo at the end for 21 not out.
Australia won the toss, and Watson continued in the same vein of form which netted a record-setting 185 on Monday in the second game.
But after three sixes and 11 boundaries, Watson missed Abdur Razzak and lost his off stump bail in the 12th over at 110-1.
Fellow opener Ponting kept up the assault and was three runs short of a half century when he missed a sweep shot at Razzak, and was out lbw.
Clarke and Hussey had the second-best partnership, worth 89 for the fourth wicket.
Clarke also went for 47 in the 36th over, dismissed by fast bowler Mashrafe bin Mortaza for 231-4.
Johnson kept the run rate up with 41 off 24 balls before he was Mortaza's third wicket.
Hussey's innings finally ended at the start of the last over when he went for a sweep at Shafiul Islam, missed, and was hit on the pads straight on.
Hussey needed only 91 balls and slogged two sixes and nine boundaries.
Razzak took 3-58, and Mortaza, brought back in place of Rubel Hossain, claimed 3-80. AP
